In 1998, Project 86 released its self-titled debut on BEC Recordings, a division of Tooth & Nail Records, and was immediately labeled "rapcore" due to strong similarities to acts such as Rage Against the Machine. Though Schwab's vocals could barely be called rapping, it was a convenient label due to the popularity of that genre of music at the time. The album and a supporting tour opening for P.O.D. and Blindside on the Warriors Tour stirred a lot of hype for the band and their sophomore album was excitedly anticipated.
Project (as the band is often referred to by its fans) released Drawing Black Lines in early 2000 to very strong aclaim and the album is widely considered to be the band's defining work. In support of Drawing Black Lines, Project 86 toured extensively with the addition of a second live guitarist (Cory Edelman, formerly of No Innocent Victim), headlining with supporting bands such as Living Sacrifice and Stavesacre and also opening for P.O.D. and Linkin Park. Perhaps more importantly, influential modern shock rocker Marilyn Manson took interest in the band and had the song "P.S.", originally released on Drawing Black Lines, added to the Blair Witch 2 soundtrack. Probably due to this interest, Project 86 became a higher priority for Atlantic. DBL was slated to be re-released with new artwork and three new songs, but in actuality it was only a bare bones repackaging of the exact same album. However, Atlantic did pour over half a million into Project's next musical foray, entitled Truthless Heroes (2002), which, though proving to be the band's most popular outing yet, was released amidst great turmoil.
Over the course of recording Truthless Heroes (which took around a year to complete) Project 86 had increasing difficulty with its management, as well as both record labels (Tooth & Nail still had rights to release their music to the Christian market). This wore the band down immensely, but by the time the album was finished, the difficulty seemed to have worked out in Project's favor - Atlantic bought all of Tooth & Nail's remaining rights to the band and released "Hollow Again", the first single from the album, on mainstream radio. Word came out that the band would be shooting a video for the song shortly, but it never materialized as Atlantic ran into troubles of its own and liquidated some of its assets - including Project 86. In 2003, finding themselves cut loose by both label and management, Project started its own independent label.
Also during this time, the members of Project 86 became outspoken concerning the Contemporary Christian Music scene, siding with other similar acts such as Stavesacre and MXPX in saying that they wanted to distance themselves from the label and the idealogical restrictions that the CCM label automatically places on bands. A Truthless Heroes website containing links to various underground news organizations, as well as edgy visual art pages that decried the dehumanizing effect of pornography, surfaced and generated much controversy among the band's fans.
Project 86's fourth album, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By, was released independently in the fall of 2003 and went on to sell quite well despite being sold only at shows and online. Come 2004, the band mended relations with and re-signed to Tooth & Nail Records and Songs To Burn Your Bridges By was re-issued with three new songs and completely new artwork.
In February 2005, Project 86 announced that they were working on a new album. The title was later announced as ...And The Rest Will Follow. The band spent several weeks in the studio with Garth Richardson over the summer recording the material, and then began releasing a new song every Monday on their purevolume site. The album was released on September 27, 2005, and sold 8,000 copies in its first week, more than any other Project 86 album. A release tour began September 23, with Spoken, Number One Gun, Mourning September, and The Fold.
On January 6th, 2006, Project 86 appeared live on G4's Attack of the Show!, performing "My Will Be A Dead Man" and "The Spy Hunter". This was the band's first appearance on mainstream cable television.
In other recent news, announced March 28th, 2007, on the band's website: "Recently, Alex Albert officially left Project 86. After many years as the drummer for the band, it was time for him to move on to pursue other interests. Alex parted the band on friendly terms, and Project 86 wishes him the best in this new chapter in his life. Thanks for all your years of comraderie, Alex, and you are in our prayers!"
From www.project86.com:
Project 86 has been riding high since the release of their 6th studio album "Rival Factions" in June, 2007. The record grabbed P86 their highest career Billboard debut at 123 and their 1 single "Evil -A Chorus of Resistance" has topped rock charts for the last several months. The new record has garnered extensive critical praise with glowing reviews in AP, Infuze, All Music Guide, Sputnik, The OC Register, etc. The guys were also featured in Outburn and CCM, and graced the July cover of HM Magazine. Add the recent tapping to have their music used on the upcoming film "The Seeker-The Dark Is Rising" video blog series on MTV.com and its clear the guys in P86 have much to celebrate.
"The Kane Mutiny-EP" was released on Nov. 27 2007, making it the first EP that Project 86 ever released.
Then, after almost a year of no new music, Project 86 released the "This Time Of Year EP", a christmas album with 5 tracks on it.
On April 24, 2009, Project 86 Announced that their seventh studio release would be entitled "Picket Fence Cartel." On May 20, 2009, they uploaded two songs from Picket Fence Cartel, "Destroyer" and "Dark Angel Dragnet" to their MySpace page, for streaming play. They also added the song from 'Picket Fence Cartel' called A John Hancock with the safety off on June 4, 2009. The album was released on July 14, 2009.
After fulfilling their last agreement with T&N, in December 2011 the band announced a Kickstarter campaign via their official website and Facebook page, stating that "the fans are now our record label." Their eighth studio release, Wait for the Siren, was released on August 21, 2012.
Featuring all star guest appearances by: Bruce Fitzhugh (Living Sacrifice), Rocky Gray (Evanescence), Brian "Head" Welch (Korn, Love and Death), Andrew Welch (Disciple), Blake Martin (A Plea for Purging) and The Wedding. The new album was produced by Steve Wilson and Andrew Schwab and engineered/mixed by Steve Blackmon.
Described as Andrew Schwab's opus the record promises to be a fresh take on the P86 sound. Schwab said, "On this record I was really able to take the reins of the creative process in a direction I was passionate about. I was able to write songs that pushed me to grow as an artist. It was also insanely fun to have so many of my friends involved in the process and at this point in the game that is what its about. I am really looking forward to people hearing this album." With concert goers noting the new energy of the songs and new band members Scott Davis on drums, Dustin Lowry on guitar and Mikee "Norman" Williams on bass it seems P86 has benefited from a back to basics reinvention.
2. Also, in the early 90's, house producers Howie How & Little Carlos released 12"s on seminal labels R&S Records and Nu Groove Records, under the name "Project 86". They are otherwise totally unrelated. See also the following link for detail on this collaboration: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Project+86
The Spy Hunter
Project 86 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pawns standing in awe of the game
Of the stage
You've worked so hard at building an empire
Of secret rooms to display yourself
And add to your wealth
The sting of.
When I saw it all come crashing
I witnessed the sound of a million voices
Screaming for a public hanging
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
We caught you plotting murder
And now the Tide is Turning
We'll light our souls, heal our bones
Upon your empire burning
Upon your empire burning
When the world is a target for humanity's market
And all of it's sold for a dime
I've seen the towers of gods
And the power of men
In disguises of the worst kind
I am the words on the page
I am the death among life today
I am the voice of one among the silent
Who's tired of burning among the flames
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
We caught you plotting murder
And now the Tide is Turning
We'll light our souls, heal our bones
Upon your empire burning
Upon your empire burning
I do not need anymore truthless heroes
I do not need anymore truthless heroes
I do not need anymore truthless heroes
We don't need no truthless heroes
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
We caught you plotting murder
And now the Tide is Turning
We'll light our souls, heal our bones
Upon your empire burning
Upon your empire burning
I need truth
The song "The Spy Hunter" by Project 86 is a commentary on the corruptive nature of power, wealth, and influence. The lyrics are written from the perspective of someone who has witnessed the downfall of a powerful individual who had built a secret empire to display their wealth and influence. The title of the song refers to the individual as a "spy hunter," someone who is always watching and manipulating others for their own gain.
The opening lines of the song describe the individual as having "worked so hard at building an empire / Of secret rooms to display [themselves] / And add to [their] wealth." The singer has witnessed this empire come crashing down and describe the pain and shock of seeing it all fall apart. The chorus of the song urges the individual to hide themselves, knowing that they are now exposed for their wrongdoing.
The second half of the song emphasizes the need for truth and the rejection of those who manipulate and deceive others. The singer declares they "do not need anymore truthless heroes," referring to those who present themselves as powerful and influential but, in reality, are corrupt and deceitful.
Line by Line Meaning
One last disguise
The subject is about to reveal their true identity.
Pawns standing in awe of the game
Other people are impressed by the subject's deceitful tactics.
Of the stage
This relates to the metaphorical stage the subject has created for themselves.
You've worked so hard at building an empire
The subject has put in great effort to establish power and influence.
Of secret rooms to display yourself
The subject has hidden areas where they can show off their true self.
And add to your wealth
Money is one of the things the subject gains from their deceit.
The sting of.
The consequences of their actions are painful for the subject.
Oh, it stings
The subject is feeling the pain of their actions.
When I saw it all come crashing
The artist witnessed the downfall of the subject.
I witnessed the sound of a million voices
The people who were deceived by the subject spoke out.
Screaming for a public hanging
They demanded justice for the subject's crimes.
So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now.
The artist advises the subject to conceal themselves to avoid punishment.
We caught you plotting murder
The subject was caught planning to harm someone.
And now the Tide is Turning
The events are taking a turn in favor of justice.
We'll light our souls, heal our bones
The singer will find peace and closure when justice is served.
Upon your empire burning
The subject's power and influence will be destroyed.
When the world is a target for humanity's market
The world is being treated as a commodity.
And all of it's sold for a dime
People are willing to exploit the world for cheap profit.
I've seen the towers of gods
The subject has seen the structures of power and wealth.
And the power of men
They have witnessed the hold that men have on the world.
In disguises of the worst kind
They hide their true intentions behind fake personas.
I am the words on the page
The artist is the voice of those who have been silenced.
I am the death among life today
They represent the demise of a corrupt system.
I am the voice of one among the silent
They speak out for those who cannot.
Who's tired of burning among the flames
The suffering caused by the corrupt system is unbearable.
I do not need anymore truthless heroes
They do not want false idols or leaders.
We don't need no truthless heroes
More succinctly reiterating the same sentiment.
I need truth
The artist desires transparency and honesty.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: ALEXANDER ALBERT, ANDREW SCHWAB, RANDY TORRES, STEVEN DAIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tabea Kalimeris
Lyrics
One last disguise
Pawns standing in awe
Of the game
Of the stage
You've worked so hard to build an empire
Of secret rooms in display to yourself
And add to your wealth
The sting of...
Oh, it stings
When I saw it all come crashing
I witnessed the sound of a million voices
Screaming for public hanging
So hide, so, hide hide yourself for now (for now)(Chorus)
When the world's a target
For humanity's market
And all of it's sold for a dime
I've seen the towers of gods
And the power of men
In disguises of the worst kind
I am the words of the page
I am the death among life today
I am the voice of one among the silent
Who's tired of burning among the flames
So hide, so, hide hide yourself for now (for now)(Chorus)
Chorus-So hide yourself for now
But we caught you plotting murder
And now the tide is turning
We'll light our souls
We'll heat our bones
Upon your empire burning
I do not need anymore truthless heroes
We don't need no truthless heroes
I need truth!
Dorothy Adkins
This song will never EVER get old.
Antonio Mendez
one of the most underrated heavy songs of all time
Cole Laster
Antonio Mendez I agree 💯 %
Stuart Wilkinson
I agree too.
I love this song and there sequel, my will be a dead man.
I haven't been able to find the music video since seeing it on the U satellite channel.
Dark Archon
Un hombre manco sigue en juego también es muy buena canción. Es la mejor del grupo a mi gusto. One-Armed man (play on)
Mike Law
Agree 100%
Heston
Heck ya as a kid I listened now I am thank my dad for being a youth pastor lol
dustysquito
Man, this is still probably my favorite Project 86 song after all these years. This entire album was dang good too.
Chris Bowen
agreed
Battle, Adventure, Beauty
First Project 86 song I heard.